Oligo Medic was founded in 2010 by biomaterials experts who have developed the first polysaccharide thermogelling implants for biomedical applications1, with a vision to provide minimally invasive solutions that fit seamlessly within the clinical workflow.

The company's leading technology platform2 is a gelling composition with the following fundamental characteristics:

Biocompatible: it can be administered anywhere in the body without eliciting any adverse tissue reaction. Its pH and osmolarity are physiological, and it allows excellent cell viability.

Thermogelling: Applied through standard needles, it solidifies at the temperature of the body. This allows it to be administered as an implant with minimal harm to the patient, bypassing the need for surgical implantation or e.g. UV crosslinking.

Bioadhesive: Due to charges at the molecular level, it electrostatically adheres to mucous surfaces, allowing for a precise application at the intended location, bypassing the need for fibrin or other gluing material.

Biodegradable: Once inside the body, it is slowly degraded into constituent molecules that are native to the human body.

These properties make for an ideal implant to treat articular cartilage lesions. Cartilage loss is a major debilitating and prevalent condition that can originate from osteoarthritis or traumatic events. This important clinical need is presently primarily addressed by total joint replacement (prosthesis) and other costly/invasive procedures. Preventive approaches including viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid injections) have showed very limited success.

Oligo Medic has focused its efforts developing its first product JointRepTMas a minimally-invasive solution to cartilage loss. It obtained the CE mark in 2013 and is presently manufacturing and commercializing its product for several markets across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, South East Asia and New Zealand. Oligo Medic operates under a Quality Management System which complies with the requirements of ISO 13485:2003.

The company has started work using its technology to address intervertebral disc degeneration. Other future projects include the local delivery of stem cells for other applications in regenerative medecine, localized drug-delivery, wound healing, cosmetic care, and others.

Management Team

Dr. Amine Selmani, PhD

Executive Chairman

Dr. Amine Selmani holds a PhD in Material Sciences (1985) from the University of Montreal. After three years as post-doc positions in different universities, he joined the prestigious engineering school ‘Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal’ as a Professor. Dr. Selmani’s research in biomaterials and biotechnologies led him to incorporate BioSyntech in 1995 and be part of its executive team as CEO and Chairman of the Board for close to 10 years (1995-2004). During his tenure, Dr. Selmani was able to take this biotechnology company public on both Nasdaq and TSX.

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Also, Dr. Selmani founded in 1992 POLNOR (Polytechnique-Noranda) group of around 30 engineers and professionals, with the mandateto provide higher value to the Noranda amorphous silicon and other products (produced in very small quantities). Big budgets coming from Noranda, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, 3M and The Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal allowed the development of High Resolution Digital Mamograph X-rays plates that are today used in most of radiology centers and commercialized by the well-known company in the field, Analogic. Few employees coming from the same project created a company (5N Plus), now leader in the world of high-specialized materials. The company is listed on the TSX, Toronto.

Jerett Creed

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Creed has more than 20 years of medtech experience spanning multiple disease sectors and leadership roles with a strong focus on international commercialization, capital markets and business development. Mr. Creed has participated in a leadership role on transactions exceeding $650 million in M&A activity including 2 public offerings. Most recently Mr. Creed was in charge of launching Oligo Medic's JointRep™ product throughout Latin America. Prior to that, Mr. Creed was founder and CEO of Cardigant Medical, a formerly public company focused on the development and commercialization of novel peptide mimetics for treating vascular disease. Before that Mr. Creed was interim Chief Financial Officer for a publicly traded oil and gas company providing leadership through multiple acquisitions and one divestiture. Mr. Creed began his career with Johnson and Johnson initially focused on manufacturing and product development of early angioplasty balloons and bare metal stents ultimately spending more than a decade with the company finishing his tenure as Director of Business Development for an internally funded stem cell based incubator. Mr. Creed holds a Master of Science degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering both from the University of Miami.

Dr. Abdellatif Chenite, PhD

Chief Technology Officer

Dr Chenite has the distinction of being co-founder of Oligo Medic and inventor of its technology platform. He successfully led the first company product from conception through to manufacturing completion. Dr Chenite is an accomplished scientist and inventor, with many patents and relevant publications, focused on the development of innovative biomaterial devices for biomedical technologies. His impressive array of knowledge and technology skills is a real asset for the company.

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Dr Chenite obtained a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, in1992, from the University of Montréal, and immediately after his graduation he was hired a Research Associate at the National Research Council, in Ottawa, Canada, where he worked during 3 years. In 1996, he joined Biosyntech as research director and he was an essential contribution to the company success by inventing BST-Gel technology platform early in 1998. He has published more than 35 peer-reviewed scientific articles and authored patent applications for numerous distinct inventions.

Monique Jarry

VP Finance & Corporate Development

Mrs. Monique Jarry
VP Finance & Corporate Development

Ms Jarry holds a BA and MA (1991) from University of Montreal. She implemented many accounting systems in public companies listed in Nasdaq BB and on TSX. Ms. Jarry supervised all the financial aspects of a private investment company from 1992 until 2010, when she joined Oligomedic as a VP Finances.

Dr. Cyril Chaput, PhD, MBA

VP RA/QA

Cyril Chaput, PhD, MBA,has more than 15 years of experience as a manager in Life Science and Biotechnological companies. Cyril Chaput has biomedical engineering and biomaterials background, and holds several patents and scientific publications. He has been involved in R&D, intellectual property management, product management and business development in various Biotech and medical technology companies.

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Cyril Chaput has been involved in the Biomaterial platforms development at Bio Syntech Canada, and has been IP and Business Development manager and Product manager for the Medical Device company, Angiogene Inc. In addition to his extensive work experience, Mr. Chaput holds a PhD in biomedical engineering from the EcolePolytechnique de Montreal, and a MBA in Bio-industries Management from the UQAM in Canada.

Sam Alexandre Selmani, Ph.D

VP Product Development

Dr. Yves De Backer

Europe (CE) representative

Yves de Backer brings more than 25 years of Research, Development, sales development and Regulatory Affairs experience in biomaterials and implanted medical devices. His regulatory submissions experience includes CE Mark, FDA 510k, and PMA/IDE. As Founder and President of Bio-Consulting international, he has managed multiple regulatory and clinical investigation submissions from protocol development, investigator selection/management, and quality audits.

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More than 50 firms have been advised during his consultancy services including J&J Depuy, Cervitech Spine, and SanofiAvantis FOVEA. Yves is also the MedTech advisor for SEVENTURE, a European VC expert in Biomedical, Medtech and Biotech investment.
Prior to founding Bio-Consulting, Yves served as Director of Biomaterials at Medtronic Sofamor, and as Project Manager, Biomaterials for Zimmer Europe. Yves is a guest lecturer on biomaterials regulation at Paris Lariboisière Medical University and Lausanne Polytechnicum University. He received a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences from Lille Pharma University, and a MSc. in biochemistry from Lille Sciences University.
Yves has a great knowledge of European market and, KOL’s, and has experience with European distributors in orthobiologics and arthroscopy.During his career he launched and develop several biomaterials for bone repair in spine, knee arthroscopy and extremities.